Psalms 82:3

1 God presides in the divine assembly; He renders judgment among the gods:

2 “How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Selah

Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; uphold the rights of the afflicted and oppressed.

4 Rescue the weak and needy; save them from the hand of the wicked.

5 They do not know or understand; they wander in the darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken.

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; uphold the rights of the afflicted and oppressed.
KJV
Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.
WEB
“Defend the weak, the poor, and the fatherless. Maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed.
ASV
Judge the poor and fatherless: Do justice to the afflicted and destitute.
DARBY
Judge the poor and the fatherless, do justice to the afflicted and the destitute;
BLB
Judge for the weak and the fatherless; [for] the oppressed and needy bring justice.
ÅB
Døm den ringe og farløse, la den elendige og fattige få sin rett!
OTB
Forsvar de svake og farløse;
Oppretthold rettighetene til de plaget og fattige.
B1930
Døm den ringe og farløse, la den elendige og fattige få sin rett!

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • James 1:27

    Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

    Read in context
  • Psalms 10:18

    to vindicate the fatherless and oppressed, that the men of the earth may strike terror no more.

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 22:3

    This is what the LORD says: Administer justice and righteousness. Rescue the victim of robbery from the hand of his oppressor. Do no wrong or violence to the foreigner, the fatherless, or the widow. Do not shed innocent blood in this place.

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 1:17

    Learn to do right; seek justice and correct the oppressor. Defend the fatherless and plead the case of the widow.”

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 5:28

    They have grown fat and sleek, and have excelled in the deeds of the wicked. They have not taken up the cause of the fatherless, that they might prosper; nor have they defended the rights of the needy.

    Read in context
  • Deuteronomy 10:18

    He executes justice for the fatherless and widow, and He loves the foreigner, giving him food and clothing.

    Read in context
  • Deuteronomy 24:17

    Do not deny justice to the foreigner or the fatherless, and do not take a widow’s cloak as security.

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 22:16

    He took up the cause of the poor and needy, and so it went well with him. Is this not what it means to know Me?” declares the LORD.

    Read in context